tell his parents. Chaplain Michael sat at his desk. His face had a warmth that made it easy for men to turn to him. Ethan didn't bother to knock.

"May I see you for a few minutes?"

"Oh, Ethan, come in." The voice was friendly.

"I hope I'm not disturbing you, sir."

"Your visits are never a disturbance." His eyes affirmed this. Ethan sat down in the same chair he had sat in on many long discussions during his court-martial.

"You're leaving today, aren't you? I'm truly sorry things worked out the way they did."

There was no reply.

"Ethan, have you decided what you're going to say to your parents?” "I'll tell them their son's a fairy."

"You don't believe that, do you?"

"I don't know what to believe but the army does and the army knows everything."

Chaplain Michael was a regular. His allegiance during the trial was toward Ethan whom he felt was innocent of the stigma but guilty of the action.

"Ethan, remember I told you that some men suffer for the guilt of others. The army found you in bed. What could they do? Condone your action even though it was innocent? You had to be punished. Try and see their side."

"But I committed no crime." Ethan's voice shook with the same fervor it had when he spoke these same words a few weeks ago.

"You slept with another soldier. The army considers this a crime, as much a crime as if you had smacked a commanding officer."

"We had a beautiful friendship. We did what was natural to us. I didn't sleep with every guy in the barracks nor did I desire to."

"That's no excuse.

"Oh, it would be less criminal to copulate with camp-followers or better still, express my feelings in another form, like picking on young men or slapping their behinds. Maybe I'd become a Sergeant and win lots of acclaim. That would be better, wouldn't it?"

"Ethan, Sergeants are men who prove their worth or they wouldn't be Sergeants. They're the backbone of the army, not to sound corny. You have no right throwing mud at them."

"I'm throwing mud at a system which condones love on a non-physical basis. Why does a man stay in service? The financial protection and because he likes to be with men, work with them, eat with them, carouse with them, but let two guys express their feelings openly and they're labeled for life. This is what I'm condemning."

"Ethan, let's not argue on your last day." The Chaplain really had no answer. Ethan pressed his point no further.

"I've written a letter to your parents telling them I feel you are innocent, possibly it will make things easier."

The Chaplain opened his desk and handed the letter to Ethan. Ethan stood up, thanked him for the letter, and left. The Chaplain couldn't say good-bye.

It was good to be outside. Ethan took out a cigarette, releasing his tension on long even drags. The letter in his coat pocket made him feel more secure. No explanation was necessary now, just give them the letter and leave it at that. His wrist watch read eleven-thirty, in one hour he'd be out. Not being hungry or desiring conversation with Roger, he decided to just walk until the time arrived.

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